CAPA Selects Veteran Staff Member as New Leader

The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) has found new leadership. After the October 2016 passing of former president William B. Conner, Jr., the organization commenced an eight-month, national search, ultimately selecting 19-year CAPA veteran Chad Whittington, who’s been serving as interim president and CEO.

Whittington began at CAPA as a part-time staff member in 1998 while attending OSU. Starting in the cleaning and operations department, he moved on to be a financial analyst and controller, and eventually chief financial officer. Most recently, he’s served as executive vice president and CEO since 2015.

“Chad knows CAPA inside and out, and has more than proven his commitment to its mission and success, especially in the past three years when it needed it most,” stated Richard Helmreich, chair of the CAPA Board of Trustees, in a release. “Chad has the leadership skills and vision necessary to continue CAPA’s momentum as a cutting-edge, agile performing arts organization with a passion for supporting the arts in our community. We are confident the future of CAPA is safe is in his hands.”

CAPA provides management and administrative services to seven organizations within the Columbus arts community, including CATCO, the Columbus Symphony, Drexel Theatre, Franklin Park Conservatory, the Lincoln Theatre Association, McCoy Center for the Arts, and Opera Columbus. The $28 million nonprofit, founded in 1969, manages 11 venues in Columbus and New Haven, CT, and owns Columbus’ Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, and Southern Theatre.

As Whittington takes the helm, he’ll continue to develop their programming, which reaches 700,000 patrons every year through more than 1,000 events, as well as maintain its theaters and “explore new ventures that will augment CAPA’s leadership in and contribution to central Ohio.”

“Columbus is a dynamic city with an incredible arts community,” Whittington said, “and I am committed to working with our dedicated donors, board, staff, volunteers, and many community partners to support and expand upon that foundation.”

Lauren Sega is a staff reporter for Columbus Underground covering political issues on the local, state and national levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.

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Lauren Sega is a staff reporter for Columbus Underground covering political issues on the local, state and national levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.